BRATTLEBORO — I am writing to let people know about a recent congressional report that details the high levels of heavy metals in practically all baby food sold by four major brands.
Heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury have terrible effects on the development of young bodies - in particular, on neurological development.
Baby formulas are mostly used by poor families. The levels of lead in some of these products were found to be 177 times the safe threshold for an adult, and children and babies are much more sensitive to the effects of heavy-metal poisoning.
I hope that people contact their representatives, community leaders, religious or spiritual groups, and anyone else they can think of to help pull these poisoned foods off the shelf before they cause any more harm.
Unfortunately, our elected representatives in Washington, D.C. are not looking at pursuing any charges against manufacturers or any immediate action to take the baby food off the shelves.
Please do whatever you can to spread awareness of this danger. I plead to any community groups involved in food assistance to families that they help find safe alternatives to these tainted foods.